Review of “Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline

This was a part relaxing, part intense read about a orphan growing up and surviving in the Great Depression.

I’ve been on a kick reading books set in the Great Depression and stumbled upon this one in my local library.

And I gave it a RARE 5 stars on Goodreads!!!

It is an adult read, but I think it’s suitable for mature YA as well. Story follows a young  Irish girl named Nieve (her name is changed by those who take her in) and the well-written plot had me laughing, crying and staring in horror at certain places. If you like your stories read to you, the audio version is fantastic as well.

Full review and details on Goodreads, check it out HERE!

Rlygirl

 

Advertisements

Review of YA Fairy Tale “Magic Under Glass”

I said I was going to start posting my Goodreads book reviews, since I spend more time on that glorious website than any other.

Goodreads is (in my opinion) Facebook for books.

Recently I finished a YA novel called “Magic Under Glass”. While the title is misleading and I didn’t get to see any magic done under actual glass, the story was intriguing the characters diverse.

I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Not too shabby…

Full Goodreads review HERE if you want to know it all.

Have fun, happy reading!

Rlygirl

Now that November is Over…

I did it! I typed like a mad woman (the jury is still out on that one) and reached my 50,000 word count on 11/28/18.

So, I have a nice little certificate from Berkeley’s NaNoWriMo team showing that I’m a winner. I can hang it on my wall.

Or not. The wall above my office desk is currently looking a little cluttered. I have some schedules, a loudly ticking clock, a decorative purse hanging on a nail, and a whole wooden tree of scarves.

What should I do with all this free time-time I had previously devoted to late nights writing? I’m sure I’ll find something to do. I’m catching up on communications with friends and family that I ignored while working on that novel.

I’m also going to stick my nose deep in a pile of books that have been crying for me in the corner of my bedroom. And I’m going to post those books reviews I do on Goodreads here.

That’s the plan! And soon it will be 2019. C’est la vie…

Back on Track. #NaNoWriMo2018

I fell woefully behind for a few days, but now that Turkey Day is over I concentrated on catching up!

Goal today according to the contest’s website? A terrifying 40,000 words. My word count? (Keep in mind this is AFTER burning the midnight all oil last night and writing for about seven hours today with coffee, English breakfast tea, pasta, and a brisk walk later…) 40,410 words.

I think I can log off now…

Rlygirl

It’s November 15th. Is YOUR novel halfway done???

Let’s lay out some facts. Pay attention now; I know I am…

We’re supposed to write 50,000 words for this 2018 NaNoWriMo challenge. Right? Right.

Naturally for the middle of the month, I should be at a nice, even 25,000 words. Right? Wrong.

Today my novel boasts a modest 22,072 words. Not shabby…but close.

Should I be worried?

Not yet. I’ve got a contingency scheme… I’ve signed up for what I’m told is a relaxing, distraction-free writing retreat this weekend in LaCrosse, WI! With all that time, I can certainly hit 25,000 words tomorrow, and keep plugging along from there.

That’s the plan anyway! Onward and upward!

Rlygirl

That Crazy Novel Challenge Again

Hello all,

I’m doing NaNoWriMo 2018! Been plugging away on my document and updating my word count on social media and on the challenge’s website. Same rules. Write a novel (it can be non-fiction, fiction, a compilation of short stories or essays) in 30 days, achieving a 50,000 word count.

I have 14,365 words so far. Today, being November 9th I need to hit 15,000!

I think this is doable. My book is coming along well, mainly because I am drawing out a scene where my protagonist is attending a lavish party only to distract her host (the current planetary governor) and break into his safe.

Good time!

I’ll continue to update my word progress. It keeps me accountable.

 

Is it spring yet?

Hello all,

I haven’t written in awhile for two…okay maybe three main reasons.

#1: I had the opportunity to travel for work from the end of December until just last week, training another employee in the company. It was a long time to be away from home (except for snatches over the weekends), but in the end enjoyable.

I was working in Ashland, Wisconsin. For those of you who have never heard of the city, it is highly industrial, but has a beautiful view of Lake Superior along much of State Hwy. 2 running through the city. It sports ancient buildings dating from the 1800s, cool town houses (decked out with wooden trim, lighthouse turrets and cozy looking porches) some standing tall and strong, some thinking about falling down, and a sprawling layout of shops, businesses, and even an old university.

#2: I hit a wall of cabin fever. Happens to most of us in the winter, and some years are worse for me than others. I was rather glad for the distraction of traveling for work to break up some of the monotony of winter, however, the gloomy feeling of cobwebs clouding my head does not help my writing mood.

#3: I watched “Star Wars the Last Jedi” and turned into a nerd. Yep, a full-blown nerd. As part of this winter, I’ve been binge watching my favorite action movies (all of the Star Wars one, lots of Marvel ones) and with that comes oodles of fan fiction! (Is “oodles” even a word anymore?) I’m terribly infected with the fan fic bug. Not sure if I am brave enough to actually post some of the spin off stories I’ve written, but since I have begun to push some of those writings on my friends and family, I suppose the words don’t want to stay put and must come out.

Here’s a massive snow mountain that is dominating my office’s parking lot. It’s half as tall as the electric line poles!

What has everyone else been up to this winter? Think spring!

-Rlygirl

I Made It

Hello all,

Well, although I haven’t updated this blog in a while, I DID end up winning my National Novel Writing Challenge on November 29th, 2017, with a day to spare! The robot program who counted my word total on the NaNoWriMo website nearly gave me a heart attack when, after pasting my novel from Microsoft Word, it said I was still 300 words short! So I had to write a bit more, and try again. Not a hard task. My characters have been sitting in limbo for a couple of weeks now, as I am taking a much needed break from the writing process for the holidays.

This does not mean that in January I won’t be back in full swing, working on my novel again. There is so much room for improvements. But I am looking forward to playing with my 3 protagonists again. They are a weird mix of characters.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas

Rlygirl

The Final Countdown

Like the 80’s band ‘Europe’ sang, it’s the final countdown.

Many of the talented writers participating in this year’s NaNoWriMo challenge have already finished and claimed their win. I feel a swell of pride for them.

Borrowing an idiom: I am SO close I can taste it! Today I wrote a great chunk of words. My characters are finally behaving and working together, (although the tension between them makes for delightful moments of conflict too) and they’ve arrived in a new galaxy. This makes it easy to pour out words, describing what they are seeing and doing in the story.

After finishing writing today, I have 48,011 words.

Rlygirl

Halfway There.

Well, yesterday being November 15th, the NaNoWriMo contest suggested that we all be at 25,000 words.

I was about 500 words behind, but I typed for a good 3 hours and got back on track. Today I’m happy to announce that I have 26,873 words.

This is quite a fun challenge so far! Not only are my creative juices flowing as I get to know my characters and live with them so closely, but this project also makes me write every day.

Good luck to everyone else who is doing this challenge!

Rlygirl